Business Insurance
Coverage built around how contractors actually work.
General contractors, subcontractors, and tradespeople have coverage needs that shift from job to job — including the certificates a general contractor or property owner will ask you to produce.
No obligation. Starting a review does not change or bind any coverage.
What's going on
Contractors and tradespeople juggle more moving pieces than most small businesses: crews on different job sites, tools and equipment that travel, vehicles used for the business, and a general contractor or property owner who wants proof of coverage before you're allowed on site. If you're starting a new job, adding a sub, or just handed a certificate request you don't know how to fill, this is where to start.
Why it matters
A lot of contractor insurance problems show up at the worst possible moment — a certificate of insurance requested the week before a job starts, or a claim that lands on the wrong policy because a truck was titled to an owner personally instead of the business. Understanding what each policy actually covers, and what a general contractor or landlord is really asking for when they request proof of coverage, helps you avoid both.
Things worth considering
Points we would talk through with you. Which of them apply depends on your situation, and what you do about them is your decision.
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What does the certificate of insurance actually need to show?
General contractors and property owners often require a certificate naming them as an additional insured, with specific liability limits. Knowing what's typically requested before you're asked helps you avoid a last-minute scramble.
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Are your vehicles insured as business vehicles?
A pickup truck used for work, even part time, usually needs to be insured differently than a personal vehicle. This is a common and expensive misunderstanding — a personal auto policy may not respond to a claim that happens on the way to or from a job.
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Does Missouri require workers' compensation for your crew?
Missouri generally requires workers' compensation coverage once a business has five or more employees, and for construction-industry employers, generally starting at one employee. Confirm how this applies to your specific business structure.
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Does your general liability policy cover the work itself?
General liability responds to property damage or injury your work causes to someone else. It does not cover the cost of redoing your own faulty work — that's a different kind of exposure worth understanding before it comes up.
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What happens when you bring on a subcontractor?
Subs you hire may carry their own coverage, or may need to be added to yours. Either way, it's worth confirming before the job starts, not after something goes wrong.
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Do you carry tools and equipment that move between job sites?
Tools and equipment that travel with you or sit on a job site overnight are often a separate coverage question from your general liability policy.
Information on this website is general in nature and is not a complete description of any insurance policy or every coverage option that may be available. Coverage availability, terms, conditions, limits and exclusions vary by insurer, policy and individual circumstances. The issued insurance policy and applicable endorsements control coverage. Beacon Point Insurance Group may provide information regarding available insurance options and discuss coverage considerations based on information you provide, but customers are responsible for selecting the carrier, coverages, limits and deductibles they wish to purchase. No insurance coverage is bound, changed, or canceled through this website unless confirmed by Beacon Point Insurance Group or the applicable insurer.
How this tends to come up
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A last-minute certificate request
A framing subcontractor in Independence was asked for a certificate of insurance naming the general contractor as an additional insured two days before a job started. Having the right information on hand made it possible to get the certificate issued in time.
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A truck used for both personal and business driving
A Kansas City electrician was using a personal truck for job calls and assumed his personal auto policy covered it. Reviewing his coverage surfaced that business use wasn't addressed the way he expected.
We Learn. We Compare. We Explain. You Decide.
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We Learn
We ask questions about your situation and the insurance you currently carry.
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We Compare
Based on the information you provide, we can obtain and compare available options from the insurance companies we represent.
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We Explain
We help you understand important differences in coverage, limits, deductibles, policy terms, and price.
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You Decide
You select the company, coverages, limits, deductibles, and options you want to purchase.
What working with us is like
The part people tend to mention is that someone explained it and then let them decide.
More business coverage
Let's find the options that work for you.
No obligation. Starting a review does not change or bind any coverage.